Toilet flapper ring device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a stainless steel circular shaped toilet flapper ring device that attaches to a chain and an adjoining handle of a toilet that includes a ring body with a tubular interior, an internal spring set within the tubular interior that provides an internal coned feature, a slide piece that covers the internal spring that can be opened to attach the device to a chain and an adjoining handle of a toilet and a pair of slide stops disposed on each end of the internal spring that lock in place to close the device. The toilet flapper ring device can be utilized with both traditional and modern toilet models.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to a ring device. Morespecifically, the invention is a toilet flapper ring device.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved toilet flapperring device that serves as a connection between a flapper chain andtoilet handle of a toilet.

It is an object of the invention to provide a toilet flapper ring devicethat serves as a connection between a flapper chain and toilet handle ofa toilet that is relatively more durable and less susceptible tobraking, twisting, becoming entangled or coming off than traditionals-shaped or clip connections.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved toilet flapperring device that serves as a bridge between a flapper chain and toilethandle of a toilet that avoids repairs, avoids unnecessary runningtoilets and will help save water and improve the functionality of allexisting flappers.

What is really needed is an improved toilet flapper ring device thatserves as a connection between a flapper chain and toilet handle of atoilet that is relatively more durable and less susceptible to braking,twisting, becoming entangled or coming off than traditional s-shaped orclip connections and that avoids repairs, avoids unnecessary runningtoilets and will help save water and improve the functionality of allexisting flappers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments,but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawing in whichlike references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates an overhead perspective view of a toilet flapperring device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates an overhead perspective view of a toilet flapperring device with a slide apparatus removed, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described usingterms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey thesubstance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention maybe practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes ofexplanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrativeembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Inother instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in ordernot to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, inturn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the presentinvention. However, the order of description should not be construed asto imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Inparticular, these operations need not be performed in the order ofpresentation.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generallydoes not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms“comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless thecontext dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1A illustrates an overhead perspective view of a toilet flapperring device 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. The toilet flapper ring device 100 includes a ring body 110with a tubular interior 112, an internal spring 120 set within thetubular interior 110 and a slide piece 130 covering the internal spring120. FIG. 1B illustrates an overhead perspective view of a toiletflapper ring device 100 with the slide piece 130 removed with a slidestop 140 disposed on each end of the internal spring 120, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

The toilet flapper ring device 100 serves as a connection between aflapper chain and toilet handle of a toilet (all not shown) that isrelatively more durable and less susceptible to braking or coming offthan traditional s-shaped or clip connections and that avoids repairs,avoids unnecessary running toilets and will help save water and improvethe functionality of all existing flappers. The toilet flapper ringdevice 100 has a solid and smooth surface that doesn't get hung-up,twisted or become dislodged like traditional S hooks or clips. Thetoilet flapper ring device 100 can serve as an alternative support toolin preventing toilet malfunctions. Currently within the market therehave been limited improvements to thwart lavatory maintenance problems,such as hardware employed to support flushing mechanisms that becomealtered or easily dislodged with use, resulting in excessive water leaksand reoccurring labor fees due to repairs.

The ring body 110 of the toilet flapper ring device 100 is made fromstainless steel, although other suitable waterproof materials can alsobe used. The ring body 110 provides a smooth, durable and rigid surfacethat is not affected by moisture or darkness. The toilet flapper ringdevice 100 attaches to a chain and adjoining handle of a toilet, by useof a sliding piece 130 that returns to a locked position, due to aninternal spring 120 that provides an internal coiled feature. Thesliding piece 130 and two slide stops 140 lock in place to close thetoilet flapper ring device 100 and can be opened to allow forinstallation of a pull chain onto a tank handle of a toilet (not shown).The toilet flapper ring device 100 compliments and can be utilized withboth traditional and modern toilet models and provides users with arelatively fail-safe solution to address potential sanitary plumbingproblems.

When in use, the toilet flapper ring device 100 helps to ensure toiletmechanisms function properly, reducing concerns of faulty parts or othercommon lavatory malfunctions. The toilet flapper ring device 100 can bemarketed for use by professional maintenance workers as well as generalconsumers. The toilet flapper ring device 100 is approximately the sizeof a United States dime, but is in the shape of a circular ring. Thetoilet flapper ring device 100 is also able to slide unrestrictedly whenin use and has no edges or protrusions which could be snagged, caught onor hung-up on.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoingembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventionis not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention canbe practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded asillustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

1. A toilet flapper ring device, comprising: a ring body with a tubularinterior; an internal spring set within said tubular interior; a slidepiece that covers said internal spring; and a pair of slide stopsdisposed on each end of said internal spring.
 2. The device according toclaim 1, wherein said spring provides an internal coned feature.
 3. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein said device attaches to a chain andan adjoining handle of a toilet.
 4. The device according to claim 3,wherein said slide piece can be opened to attach said device to saidchain and said adjoining handle of said toilet.
 5. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein said sliding piece and said slide stops lock inplace to close said device.
 6. The device according to claim 1, whereinsaid device can be utilized with both traditional and modern toiletmodels.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device has asmooth surface without any edges.
 8. The device according to claim 1,wherein said device has a circular ring shape.
 9. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein said device is made of stainless steel.
 10. A toiletflapper ring device that attaches to a chain and an adjoining handle ofa toilet, comprising: a ring body with a tubular interior; an internalspring set within said tubular interior; a slide piece that covers saidinternal spring that can be opened to attach said device to a chain andan adjoining handle of a toilet; and a pair of slide stops disposed oneach end of said internal spring.
 11. The device according to claim 10,wherein said spring provides an internal coned feature.
 12. The deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein sad sliding piece and said slide stopslock in place to close said device.
 13. The device according to claim10, wherein said device can be utilized with both traditional and moderntoilet models.
 14. The device according to claim 10, wherein said devicehas a smooth surface without any edges.
 15. The device according toclaim 10, wherein said device has a circular ring shape.
 16. The deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein said device is made of stainless steel.17. A circular shaped toilet flapper ring device that attaches to achain and an adjoining handle of a toilet, comprising: a ring body witha tubular interior; an internal spring set within said tubular interiorthat provides an internal coiled feature; a slide piece that covers saidinternal spring that can be opened to attach said device to said chainand said adjoining handle of said toilet; and a pair of slide stopsdisposed on each end of said internal spring that locks in place toclose said device.
 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein saiddevice can be utilized with both traditional and modern toilet models.19. The device according to claim 17, wherein said device has a smoothsurface without any edges.
 20. The device according to claim 17, whereinsaid device is made of stainless steel.